Kid Pics for the week

slime wave
Mighty Mud Mania XXI: The 1996 edition of this detergent-challenging festival is slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Chaparral Park, 5401 North Hayden in Scottsdale; registration precedes at 8. The main event is the "Original Mud Obstacle Course," in which children ages 7 to 13 compete to see who's the fastest and the grimiest; kids 6 and under vie in the "Mini Mud Obstacle Course." Old clothing and lace-up shoes are suggested (shoes and shirts are required), and parental permission is a must. A free swim at Chaparral Pool for all participants is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is a nonperishable food item for donation to the Vista del Cerro Food Bank. For details call 994-2704 or 994-2771.

at the concert
Battle of the Bands: Teen groups compete in this City of Chandler-sponsored event, scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, July 19, to midnight at Chandler Community Center, 125 East Commonwealth. Admission is $2. Call 786-2323.

The Cowboy Legends: The Valley sextet continues City of Mesa's 1996 "Summer Spotlite" series with a program of old-timey Western sounds. Three shows, all in Mesa, are planned on Wednesday, July 24: at 10 a.m. at Dobson Ranch Branch Library, 2425 South Dobson; at 12:30 p.m. in Center Court at Superstition Springs Center, 6555 East Southern; and at 7 p.m. at Mesa Public Library, 64 East First Street. The weekly series continues through Wednesday, August 14. Admission to all performances is free; registration is required for the Dobson Ranch show. Call 644-2242.

Jay Cravath: The performer presents a program titled "The Music of Arizona's Pioneers" at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Glendale Public Library, 5959 West Brown. Admission is free. For details call 930-3537.

"Young Virtuosos": See Friday in Pic Hits.

show and tale
Leticia Pizzino: The storyteller does her thing at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 19, at Palomino Library, 12575 East Via Linda in Scottsdale (call 391-6102); and at 8 that night at Bookstar, 1457 West Southern, Suite 20, in Mesa (call 649-1699). Both events are free; registration is required for the Scottsdale program.

arts and minds
"MACbest: Annual Student Art Exhibition": The juried exhibition of works by students at Mesa Arts Center, 155 North Center, continues through Saturday, July 27, at the facility's Galeria Mesa. Admission is free. Call 644-2242.

"Rhythm and Reading Express": Jamie Showers hosts this program of sing-along songs and play-along games for kids age 4 and up at 9:45 and 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, at Mesa Public Library, 64 East First Street. Admission is free. For details call 644-2705.

go fish
Catfishing Clinic: Representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be on hand for this event, scheduled for 6 to 9 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Desert Breeze Park, 660 North Desert Breeze Boulevard East in Chandler. The fee is $1, which includes entries in a casting contest and a raffle. Call 786-2485.

on the big screen
"Float-In" Flicks: City of Tempe hosts the 1996 edition of this always-fun series, which features simultaneous viewing of movies and swimming in the cool pool at Kiwanis Park Recreation Center, 6111 South All-America Way. The monthly series continues with a screening of Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (PG-13) at 8 p.m. Friday, July 19; open swimming precedes at 6:30. Admission is $4, $2 for kids ages 3 to 17. Raft or tube rental, required for those who want to get wet, is an additional $3. Call 350-5201; the TDD number for the hearing-impaired is 350-5050.

"Free Family Movie Series": Valley Art Theatre, 509 South Mill in Tempe, hosts this weekly series, which continues through Saturday, August 17. Babe (G) screens at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20. Each movie is preceded by a public-safety or community-awareness presentation. Admission is free, but tickets must be picked up in advance. Call 829-6668.

"Fun Flicks for Kicks": Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200, hosts this free series, which continues with a showing of The Lion King (G) at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18. Call 957-6660.

Summer Movie Fun 1996: The Harkins Theatres chain presents its annual youth-film fest, which continues this week with final screenings of Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home on Thursday, July 18; and Friday, July 19, at Westridge Mall 6 (75th Avenue and Thomas); Bell Towne Centre 8 (Seventh Street and Bell); Paradise Valley 7 (Tatum and Cactus); and Cornerstone 6 (Rural and University in Tempe). Casper plays Monday, July 22; and Tuesday, July 23, at Arcadia 8 (40th Street and Thomas), Bell Tower 8 (51st Avenue and Bell in Glendale), Camelview 5 (Goldwater Boulevard north of Camelback in Scottsdale) and Fiesta 5 (1520 South Longmore in Mesa). More Casper showings are scheduled Wednesday, July 24, at Arcadia 8, Bell Tower 8, Fiesta 5 and Paradise Valley 7. All flicks start at 9:45 a.m. A series pass costs $5; without it, the price is $2 per film. All movies are rated G or PG. Call 517-2700.

at the museum
Heard Museum "Family Fun Day": The Heard, 22 East Monte Vista, hosts this summer series. This month's entry is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20, and features hands-on activities related to the museum's permanent, interactive installation "Old Ways, New Ways." For details call 252-8840.

on the stage
The Amazing One and Only Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Show: Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre presents this production at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 19; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at Stagebrush Theatre, 7020 East Second Street in Scottsdale. Tickets are $5. Call 990-7646.